Systems and methods for organizing and monitoring data collection

Abstract

Methods, systems, apparatus and computer readable media are provided for managing data collection. In one implementation, a data collection initiative is implemented. Tasks associated with the data collection initiative are provided to participants, and information is received from the participants in response to the tasks. A status of the data collection initiative is provided based on the received information.

1 . A method for tracking data collection, comprising: 
 implementing a data collection initiative in a communications portal;    providing a task associated with the data collection initiative to at least one participant through the portal;    receiving through the portal information from the at least one participant in response to the task; and    providing through the portal a status of the data collection initiative based on the received information, wherein the status includes at least a degree of completion.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a status of the data collection initiative comprises providing through the portal a plurality of views of the status of the data collection initiative.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a status of the data collection initiative comprises determining a status of the task based on the received information, the status of the task including at least a degree of completion.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining a status of the task comprises determining a percentage of completion of the task based on the received information.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining a percentage of completion comprises comparing the received information with an expected amount of information.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a task comprises assigning the task to the at least one participant.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a task comprises selecting from list of current potential participants the at least one participant.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the list of current potential participants from an enterprise resource management system.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a task comprises providing an electronic form to the at least one participant and wherein receiving information comprises receiving the electronic form.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing the electronic form comprises providing a personalized electronic form to the at least one participant.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a task comprises requesting the participant to input information through the portal.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing through the portal a trigger, indicating an action to be completed, based on the determined status.    
     
     
         13 . A method for tracking data collection, comprising: 
 identifying a data collection initiative;    providing a portal through which information associated with the data collection initiative is requested and received;    receiving through the portal information from at least one participant;    determining a status of the data collection initiative based on the received information, wherein the status includes at least a degree of completion; and    providing a plurality of views of the status of the data collection initiative.    
     
     
         14 . A method of organizing planning, comprising: 
 allowing a coordinator to establish a planning initiative associated with a goal, the planning initiative including a plurality of planning tasks and identifying planning participants;    allowing the coordinator to assign the plurality of planning tasks to the participants;    receiving information from the participants in response to the plurality of tasks;    determining a status, including a degree of completion, of each of the plurality of planning tasks based on the received information;    determining a status, including an overall degree of completion, of the planning initiative based on the status of each of the plurality of planning tasks; and    allowing the user to track the planning initiative including the status of the planning initiative and the status of each planning task.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein allowing the user to track the planning initiative comprises allowing the user to view the status of each planning task according to the participants.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein allowing the user to track the planning initiative comprises allowing the user to view the status of each planning task according to the planning tasks.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising identifying an object associated with the information and tracking a status of the object.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein allowing the user to track the planning initiative comprises allowing the user to view the status of the object.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein allowing the user to track the planning initiative comprising allowing the user to view the status of each planning task according to the objects.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein allowing the user to track the planning initiative comprises allowing the user to view the status of the each planning task according to objects associated with the received information.  
     
     
         21 . A system for tracking data collection, comprising: 
 a data processing system coupled to a network, the data processing system including a memory that stores instructions and a processor that executes the instructions, the instructions including: 
 instructions for implementing a communications portal;  
 instructions for implementing a data collection initiative in the communications portal;  
 instructions for providing a task associated with the data collection initiative to at least one participant through the portal;  
 instructions for receiving through the portal information from the at least one participant in response to the task; and  
 instructions for providing through the portal a status, including a degree of completion, of the data collection initiative based on the received information; and  
   an access device, coupled to the network, that accesses the communications portal.    
     
     
         22 . A system for tracking data collection, comprising: 
 means for implementing a data collection initiative;    means for providing a task associated with the data collection initiative to at least one participant;    means for receiving information from the at least one participant in response to the task; and    means for providing a status, including a degree of completion, of the data collection initiative based on the received information.    
     
     
         23 . A computer-accessible communications portal for tracking data collection, comprising: 
 a selection module for allowing a user to implement a data collection initiative;    a task module that allows the user to provide a task associated with the data collection initiative to at least one participant;    a receiving module that receives information from the at least one participant in response to the task; and    a status module that provides a status, including a degree of completion, of the data collection initiative based on the received information.    
     
     
         24 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the computer system having a processor for executing the instructions, the method comprising: 
 implementing a data collection initiative in a communications portal;    providing a task associated with the data collection initiative to at least one participant through the portal;    receiving through the portal information from the at least one participant in response to the task; and    providing through the portal a status of the data collection initiative based on the received information, wherein the status includes at least a degree of completion.